Furnace regenerator



Jan. l, 1935. F. R. McGEE FURNACE REGENERATOR Filed Nov. 26, '-1932 f//f/ f f OUF 1 lwenia: FaQ/Wc E Patenti-.d Jan. 1, 1935 PATENT OFFICE FURNACE BEGENEBATOR Frank B. McGee,

Steubenville, Ohio AApplication November 26, 1932, No. 644,548

8Claims.

10 structed of elements which may be manufactured at a price comparable to standard brick and handled and laid with equal ease. Other objects may be inferred from the following exemplary disclosure of two specific forms of the invention. Referring to thel drawing: 1:oFigure 1 is a plan of a fragment r. Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure l. Figures 3, 4 and 5 are side and end views, re-

Figure 6 is a perspective of one of these elements.

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-section of a fragment of a regenerator constructed of modined elements.

Figure 8 is a perspective of one of these modiv ed elements.

' 'Ihe brick elements 1 are each of an elongated substantially rectangular shape.' 'I'hey are characterized by recesses 2 formed in their side corner portions and extending almost to their ends. The end surfaces 3 of these recees angle outwardly towards the surfaces of the elements. Smaller recesses 4 are formed in two adjacent side corner portions at both ends of each of the elements. The recesses .2 and 4 are formed with their respective surfaces at right angles to each other and to the surfaces of the rectangular elements. As will presently be realized, some or all of these recesses may have other shaped surfaces.

To form a regenerator these elements are lai in a series of levels to form a checker-work of straight passages. In each level alternate elements are arranged slightly out of line with the remainder and thus extend into the next level in which the elements registering withthese out of line elements' are also out of line with their level. The various levels are thus interlocked and cannot individually shift laterally with respect to the structure as a whole.

The elements are further arranged so that the unrecessed corner portions of each are received in the end recesses 4 of the next so that a nesting of a reg'eneraf spectively, of an element from the first two 11811195 form results.- This further contributes to the stability of the checker-work.

When the .bricks are arranged in the above manner the recesses 2 of their associated corner portions form openings or ducts which establish 5 communication between the various straight passages resulting. This eiects a uid pressure equalization throughout the entire regenerator and assures utilization of all the vertical uid passages, even though some of the latter may 10 become clogged at localized points. The declination of the bottommost end surfaces 3 of the reces'ses 2 prevent any undue ,accumulation of dirt. That is to say, these declining surfaces allow the dirt to slide readily olf and to the bottom of the l5 regenerator.' This action is further assured because the gases will tend to expand into these recesses and wash their surfaces clean.

Still another feature isthe tangential entrances into -the straight vertical passages effected by the outwardly angling end surfaces 3 of the recesses 2. This imparts a tangential motion respecting the straight passages to gases flowing laterally to effect pressure equalization and causes the straight moving fluid flows to assume a whirling 25 motion which tends to wash all surfaces clean of dirt and eifect a more thorough heat absorption or dissipation.

The above feature may be understood better if Figures 3 and 4 are carefully studied, particu- 30 larly respecting angularity of the en d surfaces 3 of the recesses 2; Thus, these surfaces are characterized in that they each angle outwardly towardan adjacentsurface of the element and no two angle towards the same one of these surfaces. When the element is rotated about its longitudinal center line the end surfaces of the recesses successively brought to similar positions will have the same angularity. Therefore, when four or more of these elements are laid up in the previously mentioned arrangement to form a section of a straight passage, all the end surfaces 3 of the recesses 2 of the various elements which angle towards this passage will angle in the same direction and will consequently lproduce the tangential entrances mentioned. The arrows in Figure 1 give an idea of this action, the straight arrows showing the tangential deection and the circular arrow showing the resulting whirling eect on the fluid moving in the straight passages.

Some of the various advantages possessed by the above form are absent in the modification but stability, ease of construction and adequate communication between the vertical passages are present., The recesses 5 in this modification are simplified, consisting only of flat surfaces which convert the elements' middle cross-sections into Octagon shape. The ends remain in rectangular form and may be recessed in each instance to receive anothers corners in the manner described in connection with the preferred form, if desired.

The specific form of the invention here disclosed is in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, and is not intended to limit the following claims exactly thereto.

I claim:

1. A regenerator element of an elongated sub.

stantially rectangular shape having its side corner portions provided with recesses having outwardly angling end surfaces and extending nearly to the ends of the element.

2. A regenerator element of an elongated substantially rectangular shape having all its side i nearly to its ends and corner portions provided with recesses which extend nearly to its ends and having the ends of at least two of its side corner portions provided with recesses shaped to receive the corner portions of other like elements.

3. A regenerator element of a .substantially rectangular elongated shape having all its side corner portions provided with recesses extending having outwardly angling end surfaces, and having the ends of at least two of its side corner portions provided with recesses shaped to receive the corner portions of other like elements.

4. A regenerator element of a substantially rectangular elongated shape having all its side corner portions provided with recesses which extend nearly to its ends and havingend surfaces which respectively angle outwardly toward adjacent surfaces of the element, no two of said end surfaces angling towards the same one of said surfaces, said element having the ends of at least two of its side corner portions provided with recesses shaped to receive the corner portions of other like elements.

5. A regenerator element of an elongated substantially rectangular shape having its side corner portions provided with recesses having outwardly angling end surfaces.

6. A regenerator element of an elongated substantially rectangular shape having all of its side corner portions provided with recesses having end surfaces which respectively angle outwardly toward adjacent side surfaces of the element, the end surfaces of no two of said recesses angling toward the same one of said side surfaces.

7.` A regenerator including a plurality of elements of elongated substantially rectangular shapes having their side corner portions provided with recesses having outwardly angling end surfaces, said elements being vertically arranged in vertica'l rows with the side corner portions of those in each row associated with the side corner portions of those in adjacent rows so that vertical passages are formed and so that said recesses cooperate to effect lateral communication between said passages.

8. A regenerator including a plurality of elements, each of the latter being of an elongated substantially rectangular shape having all of its side corner portions provided with recesses having end surfaces which respectively angle outwardly toward the adjacent side surfaces of the element, the end surfaces of no two of said recesses angling toward the same one of said side surfaces, said elements being vertically arranged in vertical rows with the side corner portions of those in each row associated with the side corner portions of those in adjacent rows so that the side surfaces of the respective elements form vertical passages and so that said recesses cooperate to effect lateral communication between said passages while their said end surfaces function to form tangential entrances thereinto.

FRANK R. lMCGEE. 

